We Rest Beneath Westminster Abbey Quiz

Answer: Queen Elizabeth I

Queen Elizabeth I is buried in 'The Lady Chapel' built by her grandfather, Henry VII. In a twist of irony (given that Mary I had imprisoned her, and denied at times that Henry VIII was Elizabeth's father), her coffin was later placed on top of Mary's in the same vault.

As Elizabeth I died without children, she was the last of the Tudor dynasty, with the throne passing to James VI of Scotland/James I of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Answer: Sir Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was a self-described 'natural philosopher' who was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He contributed to the fields of mathematics, physics, astrology and theology. He is perhaps best remembered for his work on forces including motion and gravity. He also conducted studies into optics, leading him to develop the first reflecting telescope.

Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer is best know for writing 'The Canterbury Tales', telling the individual stories of a number of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury Cathedral. He also wrote a number of stories and poems which have survived and are still studied today. He had travelled overseas where he was captured in battle and subsequently ransomed. Upon his return to England he performed a number of roles including forester and toll collector.

He subsequently died in his apartment at Westminster Abbey, and was the first person to be buried in what later became known as 'Poet's Corner'.

Answer: Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was previously the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge between 1979 and 2009 (a post previously held by Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Babbage amongst others).

His book 'A Brief History of Time' was on 'The Times' best seller list for 237 weeks. He lost his voice due to his motor neurone disease and spoke using a voice synthesiser, which was one of his trademarks. He also made guest appearances in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation', 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'The Simpsons'.

Answer: The Unknown Warrior

The Unknown Warrior was laid to rest on 11 November, 1920 two years to the day after the end of the First World War. He was selected from four bodies, each from a different French battlefield, the idea being that he represented all such soldiers. In a poignant tradition, established by the then Duchess of York (later known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother), all Royal brides place their bouquets on his tomb.

Answer: Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin was a biologist and naturalist whose books 'On the Origin of Species' and 'The Descent of Man' were considered controversial and even blasphemous when he published them. His theory of evolution is now widely accepted and taught in schools around the world.

It was his five year voyage on 'The Beagle' that he collected many specimens of geological and animal artefacts that were to influence his theories.

Answer: Edward the Confessor

Edward the Confessor commenced rebuilding St Peter's Abbey between 1042-1052 with the aim of making it a Royal burial church. It was consecrated a week before his death in 1066, and it is likely that his was the first burial. Construction of the current church commenced in 1245 by Henry III.

It is the death of Edward the Confessor and dissension about who was his heir which led to the Battle of Hastings several months after his death, immortalised in the famous 'Bayeux Tapestry'.

Answer: Mary, Queen of Scots

Mary, Queen of Scots, was only 6 days old when her father died, leaving her to inherit the throne. She spent most of her childhood in France, marrying the Dauphin when she was 16. He became Francis II of France the following year (1559) but died the next year.

She returned to Scotland in 1561. After abdicating in 1567 in favour of her son, due to a series of scandals, she fled to England. Mary, of Roman Catholic faith felt she had a better claim to the English throne than her cousin, Elizabeth who was Protestant and not recognised by Catholics as being legitimate and the rightful monarch. Elizabeth kept Mary under house arrest for many years before finally executing her at Fotheringhay in 1587 after discovering an assassination plot supported by Mary.

Answer: Anne of Cleves

Anne of Cleves was the only wife of King Henry VIII who he had not met before marriage - relying on a portrait by Holbein to evaluate her looks. Henry VIII had the marriage annulled on the basis that she had been previously engaged, and that the marriage to Henry was not consummated. Wisely perhaps, Anne agreed to this and was awarded with a pension, houses and the title of 'The King's Beloved Sister'.

It would seem that their relationship after the annulment was friendly, with Anne regularly being invited to court.

She was married to him for the shortest period of time (around six months) and was the last of his wives to die.

Answer: Queen Anne

Queen Anne was the younger daughter of James II of England. On the orders of their uncle, Charles II, she and her older sister (Mary II) were raised as Anglicans or Protestants. Their father, James II was openly Roman Catholic, the first Catholic monarch since Mary I. This was controversial in a country that had followed the Anglican faith for over 100 years.

Mary's husband, William of Orange invaded England in 1688, after a secret letter from seven nobles requesting him to do so. James II had become unpopular due to new religious measures he had introduced and had little support. While James's second wife had had a baby boy, rumours swirled that he was an imposter, smuggled in to the palace. After he was baptised into the Catholic fate, James II lost more support, with his enemies reaching out to William of Orange, Protestant and husband to James's previous heir.

Anne I succeeded them to the throne, sadly dying with no living children to follow her. It was during her reign the Acts of Union were passed.